Crater Lake National Park

After being postponed for two years, I was finally able to attend my residency at Crater Lake National Park. It was unique, as every residency experience is. When I arrived, the park only had 33% of its normal snowpack. This alarmingly low level is due to the regionwide ongoing drought. Miles of the rim road were plowed weeks earlier than normal, which gave me access via bike to much more terrain that would normally be under ten feet of snow. Every day, I set out on bike or on foot to explore and paint the park. There was so little snow that I could walk out to most viewpoints following the stone and wood railings where I knew I was safe from the giant snow cornices. Each painting is a snapshot of the unusual weather and conditions I experienced and emblematic of our changing climate.

And, did I ever experience incredible climate extremes, from a snowstorm that dumped three feet of snow overnight on my second day followed by a bluebird 60 degrees and sunny day. This warmth melted all the new snow and then quickly deteriorated into below freezing temps and finger-chilling wind. And, with four days left in my residency, I had to leave the park early when another unusual weather event happened- a very late season storm descended on the Cascades, closing passes. I got out just in time as the first few inches of snow fell. Within the next 24 hours, it would snow over six feet at the crater rim.

Below is a gallery sharing most of the paintings I created, along with videos that share a lot more about the experience, my observations, and what it is like to be an artist in residence. I hope you enjoy them!